Brothers Defy Odds To Cross The Finish Line

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SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (WHNT) - On a Sunday morning in Scottsboro, 27-year-old Kyle Pease and his older brother Brent get ready for their second long course triathlon. It's the 20th race the Atlanta natives have competed in together.

This is normally an individual sport, but for the Pease brothers, it's a team effort. Kyle is a quadriplegic, born with cerebral palsy.

It wasn't until his mid 20s, when Brent finished his first Iron Man, that Kyle took an interest in competing.

"Brent went through the normal explanation of the challenges, 'you put one foot in front of the other and hit the wall and can’t even go on, it's just mental strength'. And he looked at Kyle and said ‘Kyle but you do that every day, what’s the difference?'" said father Richard Pease.

"This light bulb went off, and Kyle said 'I want to do that and feel what it feels like to be an athlete'."

The brothers immediately started looking for a way to adapt every event to their own set of needs.

For the 1.2 mile swim, Brent pulls Kyle in a kayak. Their bicycle is designed with a seat configured specifically for Kyle during the 56-mile bike ride. During the last leg of the event, Brent pushes Kyle while he runs.

Other than the equipment, the brothers must follow the same rules and guidelines as every other competitor. They ride the same course and go through the same struggles.

"There are highs and there are lows. For us, the hardest part is the days are typically long," said Brent Pease. "But I think everybody out here goes through the same ups an downs. Not everything goes the way you want it to."

Through each event, the brothers push through. Nearly seven hours in the piercing cold wasn't enough to dampen their moods. Kyle says he is inspired by his fellow triathletes, and in turn they are inspired by him.

"Just keep positive and you'll have a gift," said Kyle. "We have to open up that gift and share it with others."

Over the past two years, Kyle and Brent started the Kyle Pease Foundation. The organization helps other disabled athletes accomplish their dreams of crossing the finish line.